LAW MUST ACT
THE pictures of nine police officers lying injured helpless on the ground that went viral early this week marked a sad chapter in the country’s history.
The officers were victims of a mob, which attacked them after they went to arrest a suspect following a riot that left a trail of destruction including the burring of a police post and a police motor vehicle.
The Zambia Police Service might not be as popular in the public eye as regards their conduct and penchant for disregarding human rights, but they did not deserve this treatment.
Zambians have always respected their uniform and what it stands for – law and order.
The sight of the uniform is supposed to assure Zambians of protection and regardless of one’s political inclination the uniform is a national symbol that ought to be respected.
It is in this vein that we welcome the reported arrest of 20 suspects in connection with the attack on the police officers.
We hope their arrest will bring out what transpired in Katete to result in the mayhem when police officers were beaten and several houses being destroyed.
Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba announced yesterday that Police have arrested 20 men in connection with the beating and assaulting of nine police officers in Kamlaza village in Katete early this week.
Mr Kajoba said the full arm of the law would be applied to all those who participated in injuring officers and burning of a police vehicle.
We agree.
According to Mr Kajoba, the suspects were rounded-up yesterday around 02:00 hours in Joweni, Chinzu and Kamwaza villages in Katete and are in police custody while investigations had intensified.
Just as the police have been quick in rounding up the alleged suspects, we hope they will equally be fast in charging them and bringing them before the courts of law. The police have made a bad name for themselves for keeping suspects in cells for long periods – beyond the stipulated 48 hours – without charging them.
This has become the norm particularly in high-profile cases involving those who served in the Patriotic Front administration.
The manner in which the Katete incident is handled is also important for the police to show their professionalism.
While we agree that the attackers deserve to be punished, the police must be mindful that they also need to earn the respect of the villagers and ensure there is a win-win situation for all.
If the suspects are mistreated, there is high risk of a rift developing with the community members which must not happen. There is a risk too that they would be attracting the wrath of the Human Rights Commission (HRC).
The Police should know that the suspects remain as they are; innocent until proven otherwise.
Like Mr Kajoba, we note that the police did not use force when they were attacked which would have been justified.
Mr Kajoba commended the heroism exhibited by the officers for not retaliating by using force or opening fire on the villagers despite their lives being at stake which could have been catastrophic.
One shudders to imagine what could have been the result had the police been heavily armed.
The Katete incident though is a sad episode in the history of the residents and we hope both sides will draw lessons from this going forward.